An Inspector Calls (Characters)

An Inspector Calls (Characters)

1. Mr Arthur Birling

   • [Act One] "A man has to make his own way - has to look after himself" (Responsibility)
     • "his", "own" "himself" - Singular pronoun
       • Not a believer in SOCIALISM
   • [Act One] "As if we were mixed up together like bees in a hive" (Responsibility)
     • Metaphor for socialism
   • [Act One] "Still, I can't accept any responsibility"
     • "Still," - Adjective
       • Non-moving
       • Unwilling/stubborn to take any responsibility
   • [Act One] "Probably a socialist or some sort of crank"(Responsibility)
     • "Crank" - Noun
       • Negative
         • Socialism
           • Inspector

2. Mrs Sybil Birling

3. Sheila Birling

   • [Act One] "(Quite and serious now) All right then. I drink to you, Gerald."
     • "Now" - was childish, impartial
     • "I", "You" - Singular pronoun
       • Submissive, hierarchy
       • Foreshadowing
         • Not married, Doesn't use collective pronoun
   • [Act One] "I'm sorry, Daddy. Actually I was listening."
     • "Daddy" - Noun (Childish)
   • [Act One] "(To Birling) I think it was a mean thing to do. Perhaps that spoilt everything for her."
     • "Mean" - (childish) Adjective
     • "Spoilt" - Adjective
       • Dramatic Irony
         • Sheila and Gerald
   • [Act Two] "And now you've made up your mind I must obviously be a selfish, vindictive creature"
     • "Selfish, vindictive creature" - intelligent adjectives

4. Eric Birling

   • [Act One] "By Jove, yes. And as you were saying, dad, a man has to look after himself-"
     • "Man" - Pronoun, singular
       • Taking after his father
   • [Act Three] "Yes, I wasn't in love with her or anything - but I liked her - she was pretty and a good sport"
     • "Pretty", "good" - Adjective
       • Simple description
     • "Sport" - Noun
       • Playing, not serious
   • [Act Three] "This girl's still dead, isn't she?"
     • "Girl", "She" - singular pronoun
       • Doesn't refer to her name
   • [Act Three] "And it doesn't alter the fact that we all helped kill her."
     • "We all" - Collective pronouns

5. Gerald Croft

   • "All right. I knew her. Lets's leave it at that."
     • Short sentances - to quickly finish off his interrogation
   • "After all, y'know, we're respectable citizens and not criminals."
     • informal

6. Inspector Goole

7. Eva Smith

   • NAMES
     • Eva Smith is a rather simple name, allowing J.B. Priestly to generalise the working class by using one name.
     • Daisy Reynolds - Daisy is a generic flower

8. Edna